Rack system for automatic dishwasher



June 13, 1967 w. s. PATTISON ET AL 3,325,235

RACK SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC DISHWASHER Filed March 26, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet1 INVENTORS WESLEY 5. PATTISON E. J'OUBERT LINDSTROM a044, HFJR KTTORNEYJune 13, 1967 w, s, PATTlSON ET AL 3,325,235

RACK SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC DISHWASHER Filed March 26, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet2 uuuuu INVENTORS WESLEY s. PATTISON BYE, IrousERT LWDSTROM I; THEJRATTORNEY United States Patent f 3,325,235 RACK SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATICDISHWASHER Wesley S. Pattison and Joubert Lindstrom, both of Louisville,Ky., assignors to General Electric Company, a corporation of New YorkFiled Mar. 26, 1965, Ser. No. 442,905 6 Claims. (Cl. 312-269) Thisinvention relates generally to a rack system for an automaticdishwasher, and, more particularly, to a rack system for a top-openingdishwasher.

Two longstanding problems which have heretofore limited the appeal of atop-opening dishwasher are, on the one hand, difficulty of access to thelower dish-supporting rack and, on the other hand, limited capacity ofthe upper dish-supporting rack due to the opening normally providedtherein for access to the lower rack. Various solutions have beenproposed for each of these problems; however, it has been discoveredthat a partial solution to one of the problems usually compounds theother problem. That is, any attempt to increase the capacity of theupper rack in a top-opening dishwasher usually results in lessaccessibility to the lower rack and, similarly, any attempt to increaseaccessibility to the lower rack usually results in a loss of capacity tothe upper rack. The most successful attempt heretofore to overcome bothproblems simultaneously is that described and claimed by L. W. Guth inUS. Patent 3,087,769, issued on Apr. 30, 1963, and assigned to theGeneral Electric Company, assignee of the present invention. The racksystem described by L. W. Guth provides only a partial solution to theabove discussed problems since there still is some diflicultyencountered in placing dishes in the rear portion of the lower rack dueto the positioning of the rear section of the upper rack. Accordingly,it would be desirable to provide an improved rack system whichfacilitates the loading and removal of dishes at the rear portion of thelower rack in a top-opening dishwasher without sacrificing capacity ofthe upper rack.

Although the rack system described by L. W. Guth in his aforementionedpatent enhances the accessibility to the lower rack, it is stillnecessary with his arrangement to reach well down into the dishwashercabinet in order to remove and insert dishes into the lower rack. Itisinconvenient, especially for women who are shorter than the average, toreach the required distance into the machine. Accordingly, it would bedesirable to provide an improved rack system which obviates a long reachdown into the dishwasher in order to insert or remove dishes from thelower rack.

It is an object of this invention to provide a rack system for atop-opening dishwasher which increases the accessibility of the lowerrack while maintaining or increasing the capacity of the upper rack.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a rack system for atop-opening dishwasher which shortens the distance into the machinewhich the operator must reach in order to insert or remove dishes fromthe lower rack.

Briefly stated, in accordance with one aspect of the invention, animproved rack system is provided for an automatic dishwasher andcomprises a cabinet having a rear, a front and two side walls with thefront wall terminating a substantial distance below the two side walls.A closure member is pivotally secured to the rear wall for movementbetween a generally horizontal closed position and a generally verticalopen position and comprises the top wall of the cabinet. The closuremember and the walls define therein a wash chamber. An upper rack ispositioned within the upper portion of the wash chamber when the closuremember is closed. The upper rack is of such size to consumesubstantially all the horizontal cross sectional area of the washchamber when it is positioned therein.

3,325,235 Patented June 13, 1967 Means interconnect the upper rack withthe closure whereby the rack moves out of the wash chamber when theclosure member is opened. A pivotal link interconnects the rack and thecabinet whereby the rack moves out of the wash chamber in an arcuatepath between the side walls and immediately above the upper extremity ofthe front wall.

With the aforementioned arrangement, as the closure member is opened,the upper rack, which in a conventional top-opening dishwasherarrangement is disposed directly between the access opening and thelower rack, is moved up and out of the wash chamber to enhance theaccessibility to both the upper rack and the lower rack. Also, due tothe configuration of the cabinet with its short front wall,accessibility to the lower rack is additionally enhanced since it isunnecessary to reach from above the uppermost point of the cabinet downinto the wash chambet to insert or remove articles from the lower rack.

In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the lower rack ismechanically linked to the upper rack whereby the lower rack is movedupwardly within the wash chamber as the upper rack is moved out of thewash chamber upon movement of the closure member.

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing outand distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as theinvention, it is believed the invention will be better understood fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view, partially cut away to show details,of an automatic dishwasher utilizing the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a partial front elevational view, partially cut away to showdetails, of the automatic dishwasher illustrated in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side View similar to that of FIGURE 1 butshowing the closure member of the dishwasher in the open position.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGURE 1 thereof,there is illustrated a top-opening portable dishwasher 10. Dishwasher 10includes an outer cabinet having a rear wall 11, a front wall 12, and apair of oppositely disposed side walls 13. The aforementioned wallsdefine therein a wash chamber 14. The cabinet has an open top whichserves as an access opening for the admission of articles to, andremoval of articles from, wash chamber 14. This access opening isprovided with a closure member 15 pivotally secured to rear wall 11 by ahinge means 16. Closure member 15 comprises the top wall of the cabinetto further define wash chamber 14. Hinge means 16 may include suitablecounterbalance means to compensate for the weight of closure member 15and the weight of other elements, to be discussed more fullyhereinafter, which are carried by closure member 15.

The lower extremity of wash chamber 14 is defined by a bottom wall 19,the periphery of which is in liquidtight relationship to the walls 11,12, and 13. Bottom wall 19 has a centrally depressed portion forming asump 20 in which liquid will collect. Disposed within sump 20 andsupported by bottom wall 19 is a motor-pump assembly 21 which includesan electrically-reversible drive motor 22 and a pump 23. Mounted forrotation at the top of pump 23 is a reaction-type spray arm 24. Pump 23has an inlet 25 extending substantially around the entire lowerperiphery of pump 23 and through which wash fluid enters from sump 20.Pump 23 is of the type which, during rotation of motor 22 in onedirection, withdraws wash fluid from sump 20 through inlet 25 andpropels it upwardly into spray arm 24 to effectuate a washing actionwithin chamber 14. During the opposite direction of rotation of motor22, pump 23 withdraws wash fluid from sump 20 through inlet 25 andpropels it out through a discharge means (not shown) communicating witha household sewer system, An electrical resistance heating element 26 issupported by bottom wall 19 and is provided to facilitate drying ofarticles within wash chamber 14 upon completion of washing and rinsingoperations.

Of course, means must be provided Within wash chamber 14 to supportarticles or dishes to be washed in a manner whereby the wash actiongenerated by the spray arm 24 elfectuates cleansing of the articles.This means usually includes a lower dish-supporting rack and an upperdish-supporting rack. As discussed above, topopening dishwashers of thetype illustrated in FIGURE 1 have faced a two-fold problem of providingsuitable accessibility to the lower rack while at the same timemaintaining maximum capacity of the upper rack. Prior to theintroduction of the arrangement described and claimed in theabove-mentioned U.S. Patent 3,087,769, the conventional means for accessto the lower rack comprised a large central opening in the upper rackthrough which articles could be passed to place them in, or remove themfrom, the lower rack. The arrangement set forth in US. Patent 3,087,769made a significant contribution in overcoming the above-describedtwo-fold problem; however, with such an arrangement there still existedsome inconvenience in inserting and removing 'articles from the lowerrack due to the fact that it was permanently positioned near the bottomof the wash chamber which necessitated the operator of the dishwasher toreach through the top access opening and well down into the washchamber.

In accordance with the present invention, an improved rack system isprovided and includes an upper rack 27 and a lower rack 28, each ofwhich consume substantially all of the horizontal cross-sectional areaof the wash chamber 14 at their respective levels. Rack 28 is providedwith a plurality of supports 29 which normally rest upon bottom wall 19to support rack 28 in the position shown in FIGURE 1 when closure memberis closed. Means are provided to interconnect upper rack 27 with closuremember 15 and these means include a generally V-shaped bracket 30rigidly secured to closure member 15 and extending into wash chamber 14when closure member 15 is closed and a cooperating bracket 31 rigidlysecured to rack 27 and coupled with bracket 30. Brackets 30 and 31 arecoupled together in such a manner that when bracket 30 moves duringopening of closure member 15, it engages bracket 31 in a manner bestshown in FIGURE 3 to lift bracket 31 and rack 27 up and out of the washchamber 14 as closure member 15 is opened fully to the position shown inFIGURE 3. In the preferred form of the present invention, a secondV-shaped bracket 32 and a second cooperating bracket 33 are provided atthe opposite side of rack 27 to render rack 27 more stable during itsmovement out of, or into, wash chamber 14. An extension 34 depends fromrack 27 and is provided with means to pivotally connect with a link 35which, at its other end, is pivotally connected to a cabinet side Wall.Link 35 serves to control the amount of tipping, or angular departurefrom the horizontal, of rack 27 as rack 27 moves up and out of washchamber 14. With the aforedescribed arrangement, a substantialparallelogram is established with link 35 serving as one leg, rack 27and extension 34 as the second leg, bracket 30 and closure member 15 asthe third leg, and cabinet 11 as the fourth leg. It is to be understood,of course, that a precise parallelogram is not required and the degreeof departure from a true parallelogram is governed by the degree oftipping of rack 27 which may be desired.

It should be noted that brackets 30 and 31, as well as brackets 32 and33, are loosely coupled together when closure member 15 is closed. Theapex of bracket 30 contacts bracket 31 only after closure member 15 haspivoted approximately 13 whereupon movement of bracket 31 and rack 27begins. The present arrangement thereby provides a lost motion mechanismbetween closure member 15 and rack 27. It is to be understood, ofcourse, that brackets 30 and 31 may be arranged to vary theirrelationship whereby closure member 15 pivots through some angle otherthan approximately 13 before rack 27 begins its movement. The delay inmovement of rack 27 relative to the movement of closure member 15, asprovided by the lost motion mechanism, serves the significant purpose ofallowing closure member 15 to move out of the path of rack 27 since rack27 has initial forward movement as well as vertical movement. Thisarrangement, of course, makes feasible the use of a rack 27 whichconsumes substantially all of the horizontal crosssectional area of Washchamber 14 when positioned therein.

The configuration of closure member 15 and the cabinet walls is suchthat a substantially rectilinear wash chamber 14 is provided even thoughfront wall 12 of the cabinet terminates at a level below the side wallsand the rear wall. This is achieved by a depending front wall portion 36and depending side wall portions 37 and 38 of closure member 15. The topedge of the cabinet walls is provided with a sealing means 39 suitablysecured thereto, The sealing means 39 provides a liquid-tight sealbetween closure member 15 and the upper edges of the cabinet wall. Ofcourse, suitable latching means may be provided, although not shown, tosecure closure member 15 in liquid sealing relationship with sealingmeans 39.

By having front wall 12 terminate at a level below the rear wall andside walls, certain advantages are obtained. For example, it is possibleto make rack 27 of a size wherein it consumes substantially the entirehorizontal cross-sectional area of Wash chamber 14 without encounteringany interference with cabinet walls as it moves up and out of washchamber 14 during opening of closure member 15. By shortening front wall12, it is possible to support rack 27 so that it follows an arcuate pathwhich carries it forward over the top of front wall 12. Also, once rack27 assumes the position shown in FIGURE 3, the short front wall 12provides much easier access to lower rack 28 even if rack 28 were toremain in the position shown in FIGURE 1 at the bottom of wash chamber14.

In order to stabilize rack 27 and prevent it from tipping when it is inthe position illustrated in FIGURE 1, during which time brackets 30 and32 are only loosely coupled with brackets 31 and 33 respectively, a stop40 projects inwardly from wall 11 to contact rack 27. Also, a stopsimilar to stop 40 may be provided to project inwardly from one or bothof the side walls adjacent the fuont wall 12 to contact the frontportion of rack 27 to provide further stabilization for rack 27;however, in the preferred form of the invention further apparatus, to bemore fully discussed hereinafter, provides the necessary stabilizationof rack 27 so that the second stop is obviated.

Although the arrangement as thus far described provides an improved racksystem which greatly enhances the accessibility to the lower rack of atop-opening dishwasher, by moving the upper rack out of the washchamber, while at the same time sacrificing no capacity of the upperrack, a specific embodiment of the present invention provides means tofurther enhance accessibility of the lower rack by moving the lower rackupwardly within wash chamber 14 as closure member 15 is opened. Thismeans includes a stationary member or guide 41 having an elongated slot42. Slot 42 receives a pair of rollers 43 and 44 which are rotatablysecured to a plate 45. Due to the relationship between rollers 43 and 44and slot 42, plate 45 is free to move up and down and its direction oftravel is guided by slot 42. Plate 45 is rigidly secured to lower rack28 so that rack'28 moves with plate 45. Rollers 43 and 44 are eachspaced a short distance from plate 45 and disposed within this space aresmaller rollers or sleeves 46 and 47 respectively. Sleeves 46 and 47 arecarried by the same pins which carry rollers 43 and 44 respectively. Asecond link 48 is pivotally secured to extension 34 at the same pointthat link 35 is secured thereto. Link 48 may actually take the form of apiece of rod or tubing bent into an elongated closed loop therebyproviding, in effect, a link having therein a slot extending forsubstantially the entire length of the link. Link 48 is coupled withsleeve 46 so that, as closure member and rack 27 have moved upwardlypartially, i.e., when closure member 15 has pivoted about 45, the lowerextremity of link 48 contacts sleeve 46 to pull plate 45 upwardlytherewith. As the movement of all of the elements continues, the entiresystem will eventually assume the relationship illustrated in FIGURE 3when closure member 15 reaches its full open position. In this position,rack 28 is at substantially the same level as the top of front wall 12.

Plate 45 is purposely elongated so that rollers 43 and 44 may be spacedfrom each other a substantial distance to provide the desired stabilityof lower rack 28 during its movement upwardly and during the time thatit is in the position illustrated in FIGURE 3. It is to be understoodthat a second stationary member similar to member 41, and all of theassociated elements including the rollers, plate, sleeves and link maybe provided at the opposite side of the rack 28, if desired, to furtherincrease the stability of rack 28.

A second stop 49, best seen in FIGURE 3, is associated with link 48 tocontact sleeve 46 when the system assumes the position illustrated inFIGURE 1 to limit the downward movement of rack 27 and to cooperate withstop 40 to stabilize rack 27 when it is in the position illustrated inFIGURE 1.

Thus it can be seen that the aforedescribed arrangement provides animproved rack system for a top-opening dishwasher which increases theaccessibility of the lower rack while maintaining or increasing thecapacity of the upper rack. In a specific embodiment of the presentinvention, the access to the lower rack is additionally enhanced due tothe upward movement thereof to avoid the necessity for the operator toreach down into the Wash chamber to insert or remove dishes from thelower rack.

As will be evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects ofthe invention are not limited to the particular details of constructionof the example illustrated, and it is contemplated that various othermodifications or applications will occur to those skilled in the art. Itis therefore intended that the appended claims shall cover suchmodifications and applications as do not depart from the true spirit andscope of the invention.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

1. An automatic dishwasher comprising:

(a) a cabinet having a rear, a front and two side Walls,

(b) said front wall terminating a substantial distance below said sidewalls,

(c) a closure member comprising the top wall of said cabinet and beingpivotally secured to said rear wall for pivotal movement between aclosed position and an open position,

(d) said closure member and said walls defining a wash chamber,

(e) an upper rack positioned within the upper portion of said washchamber when said closure member is closed,

(f) said upper rack consuming substantially all the horizontalcross-sectional area of said wash chamber when positioned therein,

(g) means interconnecting said upper rack and said closure memberwhereby the entire rack moves out of the wash chamber when said closuremember is opened, and

(h) a pivotal link interconnecting said rack and said cabinet wherebysaid rack moves out of said wash chamber in an arcuate path between saidside walls and immediately above the upper extremity of said front wall.

2. An automatic dishwasher comprising:

(a) a cabinet having a rear, a front and two side walls,

(b) said front wall terminating a substantial distance below said sidewalls,

(c) a closure member comprising the: top wall of said cabinet and beingpivotally secured to said rear wall for pivotal movement between aclosed position and an open position,

((1) said closure member and said walls defining a wash chamber,

(e) an upper rack positioned within the upper portion of said washchamber when said closure member is closed,

(f) said upper rack consuming substantially all the horizontalcross-sectional area of said wash chamber when positioned therein, and

(g) means interconnecting said upper rack and said closure memberwhereby the entire rack moves out of the wash chamber when said closure,member is opened,

(h) said means interconnecting said upper rack and said closure memberincluding a lost motion mechanism whereby said closure member pivotspartially toward said open position before said upper rack begins tomove.

3. An automatic dishwasher comprising:

(a) a cabinet having a rear, a front and two side walls,

(b) said front wall terminating a substantial distance below said sidewalls,

(c) a closure member comprising the top wall of said cabinet and beingpivotally secured to said rear wall for pivotal movement between aclosed position and an open position,

(d) said closure member and said walls defining a wash chamber,

(e) an upper rack positioned within the upper portion of said washchamber when said closure member is closed,

(f) said upper rack consuming substantially all the horizontalcross-sectional area of said wash chamber when positioned therein,

(g) means interconnecting said upper rack and said closure memberwhereby the entire rack moves out of the wash chamber when said closuremember is opened,

(h) said means interconnecting said upper rack and said closure memberincluding a lost motion mechanism whereby said closure member pivotspartially toward said open position before said upper rack begins tomove, and

(i) a pivotal link interconnecting said rack and said cabinet wherebysaid rack moves out of said wash chamber in an arcuate path between saidside walls and immediately above the upper extremity of said front Wall.

4. An automatic dishwasher comprising:

(a) a cabinet having a rear, a front and two side walls,

(b) said front wall terminating a substantial distance below said sidewalls,

(c) a closure member comprising the top wall of said cabinet and beingpivotally secured to said rear wall for pivotal movement between aclosed position and an open position,

(d) said closure member and said walls defining a wash chamber,

(e) an upper rack positioned within the upper portion of said washchamber when said closure member is closed,

(f) said upper rack consuming substantially all the horizontalcross-sectional area of said wash chamber when positioned therein,

(g) means interconnecting said upper rack and said closure memberwhereby the entire rack moves out of the wash chamber when said closuremember is opened,

(h) said means interconnecting said upper rack and said closure memberincluding a lost motion mechanism whereby said closure member pivotspartially toward said open positions before said upper rack begins tomove,

(i) a lower rack positioned within the lower portion of said washchamber when said closure member is closed, and

(j) means interconnecting said upper rack and said lower rack wherebysaid lower rack is moved upwardly within said Wash chamber as saidclosure member is opened.

5. An automatic dishwasher comprising:

(a) a cabinet having a rear, a front and two side walls,

(b) said front wall terminating a substantial distance below said sidewalls,

() a closure member comprising the top wall of said cabinet and beingpivotally secured to said rear wall for pivotal movement between aclosed position and an open position,

(d) said closure member and said Walls defining a wash chamber,

(e) an upper rack positioned within the upper portion of said washchamber when said closure member is closed,

(f) said upper rack consuming substantially all the horizontalcross-sectional area of said wash chamber when positioned therein,

(g) means interconnecting said upper rack and said closure memberwhereby the entire rack moves out of the wash chamber when said closuremember is opened,

(h) said means interconnecting said upper rack and said closure memberincluding a lost motion mechanism whereby said closure member pivotspartially toward said open position before said upper rack begins tomove,

(i) a lower rack positioned within the lower portion of said washchamber when said closure member is closed, and

(j) means interconnecting said upper rack and said lower rack wherebysaid lower rack is moved upwardly within said wash chamber as saidclosure member is opened,

(k) said means interconnecting said upper rack and said lower rackincluding a lost motion mechanism whereby said upper rack movespartially toward its position out of the wash chamber before said lowerrack begins to move.

6. An automatic dishwasher comprising:

(a) a cabinet having a rear, a front and two side walls,

(b) said front wall terminating a substantial distance below said sidewalls,

(c) a closure member comprising the top wall of said cabinet and beingpivotally secured to said rear wall for pivotal movement between aclosed position and an open position,

((1) said closure member and said walls defining a wash chamber,

(e) an upper rack positioned within the upper portion of said washchamber when said closure member is closed,

(f) said upper rack consuming substantially all the horizontalcross-sectional area of said wash chamber when positioned therein,

(g) means interconnecting said upper rack and said closure memberwhereby the entire rack moves out of the wash chamber when said closuremember is opened,

(h) a pivotal link interconnecting said upper rack and said cabinetwhereby said rack moves out of said wash chamber in an arcuate pathbetween said side walls and immediately above the upper extremity ofsaid front wall,

(i) guide means carried by said side walls and having a generallyvertical elongated slot therein,

(j) a lower rack positioned within the lower portion of said washchamber when said closure member is closed,

(k) at least one pair of spaced rollers carried by said lower rack andreceived by said slot, and

(1) means interconnecting said upper rack and said lower rack wherebysaid lower rack is moved upwardly within said wash chamber as said upperrack moves out of said wash chamber,

(in) movement of said lower rack being guided by said guide means andsaid rollers.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,286,914 12/1918 Barts 211002,149,114 2/ 1939 Constantine 312,-276 X 3,072,452 1/ 1963 Sleeper312-228 CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Primary Examiner.

F. DOMOTOR, Assistant Examiner.

1. AN AUTOMATIC DISHWASHER, COMPRISING: (A) A CABINET HAVING A REAR, AFRONT AND TWO SIDE WALLS, (B) SAID FRONT WALL TERMINATING A SUBSTANTIALDISTANCE BELOW SAID SIDE WALLS, (C) A CLOSURE MEMBER COMPRISING THE TOPWALL OF SAID CABINET AND BEING PIVOTALLY SECURED TO SAID REAR WALL FORPIVOTAL MOVEMENT BETWEEN A CLOSED POSITION AND AN OPEN POSITION, (D)SAID CLOSURE MEMBER AND SAID WALLS DEFINING A WASH CHAMBER, (E) AN UPPERRACK POSITIONED WITHIN THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID WASH CHAMBER WHEN SAIDCLOSURE MEMBER IS CLOSED, (F) SAID UPPER RACK CONSUMING SUBSTANTIALLYALL THE HORIZONTAL CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA OF SAID WASH CHAMBER WHENPOSITIONED THEREIN, (G) MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID UPPER RACK AND SAIDCLOSURE MEMBER WHEREBY THE ENTIRE RACK MOVES OUT OF THE WASH CHAMBERWHEN SAID CLOSURE MEMBER IS OPENED, AND (H) A PIVOTAL LINKINTERCONNECTING SAID RACK AND SAID CABINET WHEREBY SAID RACK MOVES OUTOF SAID WASH CHAMBER IN AN ARCUATE PATH BETWEEN SAID SIDE WALLS ANDIMMEDIATELY ABOVE THE UPPER EXTREMITY OF SAID FRONT WALL.